Automatic sprinkler alarm valve



Aug. 14, 1923.

H. G. EASTWOOD AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER ALARM VALVE Filed Oct. 5. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 llllll 5 @rz LFwsiiu-oody Moe/14 007,:

Aug. 14, 1923. 11,464,926

H. G. EASTWOOD I AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER ALARM VALVE swuamtoz Patented Aug. 14, 1923..

5L. it all P A a AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER ALARM VALVE.

Application filed October 5, 1922.

To all. whom it may concern Be it known that I, Planar G. EASTVVTOOD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful lniprovements in Auto matic Sprinkler Alarm Valves, of which the following is a specification sufficient to enable those coni' 'ersant with the art to which the invention appertains to utilize the same.

.My improvements relate to the valves interposed between the main water pressure source or supply conduit and a system of sprinklers provided with fusible release means, all in a manner well known in the art of automatic protection against fire, my object being the provision of a quick acting valve of the character designated of simple and inexpensive, but effective structure, whichwill immediately, upon the opening of the valve by an induced flow of water therethrough to the sprinkler heads, effect the closure'of an electric fire alarm circuit, alsoin a manner we'llknown in the prior state of the art, my invention consisting in the specific construction, combination, and arrangements of parts and devices herein described and claimed, and a distinctive feature consisting in the utilization of the fulcrum shaft of a flap or clack valve means of controlling communication with the aforesaid electric alarm, substantially in the manner hereinafter fully set forth.

. In the accompanying drawings 1 illustrate a practical embodiment of the essen tial featuresof my invention, although I do not wish to limit myself to the identical form and structure of parts shown, since modifications in minor details may be resorted to, and equivalent mechanical expedients employed, without deviating from the spirit and intention of my invention in this respect, and with like result.

YVith this understanding,

Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a valve of the character designated; g V

Fig. 2, is a central longitudinal vertical section thereof;- v

Fig. 3, is aftransverse section, upon a larger scale, taken upon plane of line 3---3,'

Fig. 2; l

Fig.- h s an elevation of the flap valve discand its Suspender, by which 1t 18 connected with, the fulcrum shaft;

Fig. 5, is a transv rse section taken upon.

plane of line'5--5, 2;

water to the ext valve fulcrum shaft Serial No. 592,460.

Fig. 6, is a detail view, in sectional elevation, illustrating the opening of communication with the alarm duct by the valve disc fulcrum shaft; when the valve disc is swung away from its seat by the flow of uisher heads; i niilar view illustrating the Fig. 7, is a s1 closure of the alarm duct by the valve disc fulcrum shaft under normal conditions;

Fig. 8, is a sectional detail of the alarm duct plug and bearing for one end of the 5 Fig. 9, 1s a sect onal detail of the screw loea-ring for the other end ofthe valve fulerum shaft;

Fig. 10, is a side elevation of the fulcrum Shae;

Fig. 11, is a fragmentary view showing the inlet in the valve casing through which water pressure communication is established with the alarm duct.

C, represents the casing of a flap or clack valve of well known type and general construction, internally screw threaded at both ends for engagement with suitably threaded pipes or conduits,-one thread 0, connecting with a pipe or conduit communicating with the source of water pressure supply, the other 0', connecting with the pipe leading to the automatic sprinkler system, as heretofore.

The valve disc or member V, contacts normally with an inclined seat 0 of the valve casing C, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2, of the drawings, and is fixedly moimted on a Suspender '0, which in turn is rigidly attached to what I designate, for convenience of description, as a fulcrum shaft F, mounted upon and between bearings d, b, provided'for the purpose in the side walls of the casing C, as shown more particularly Fig. 8, of the drawings.

, Theffulcrum bearing a, shown in detail in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, is preferably in the nature of a screw plug, formed with a pcripheralmale screw thread a, for engage ment with a female screw thread tapped for the purpose in that side of the casing C, asshown in said Fig. 3, and being also formed with a female screw thread (0 for connection with the threaded end of a duct 65, leading to the electric switch closer E, or other hydraulically. actuated fire alarm device. In Fig. 1, of the drawings, E, represents symbolically, a standard electric switch of well known type, operated by water pres sure on the under side of adiaphragm, although i do not limit myself in this respect, since any equivalent lire alarm device may be released or set in motion by l1ydraulie pressure derived through the medium of conduit (Z, as hereinafter set forth, with like result.

The inner end of said alarm fulcrum hearing plug a, is formed with the sleeve a", for the reception and support of what maybe designated as the valve end f, of the fulcrum shaft F, said sleeve (5, communicating with a discharge port a in the partition (4, which latter constitutes the seat for the valve extremity f, of the fulcrum shaft F,the discharge port a when open, communicating with the duct (Z, leading to the fire alarm device F, as will be understood by reference more particularly to Figs. 6 and 7, 0f the drawings. Fig. 6, showing the fulcrum shaft F, retracted and the port a open, whereas. Fig. 7, illustrates the normal posi tion of the parts with the said port (0*, closed by the end of the fulcrum shaft F. The valve extremity j", of the fulcrum shaft F,

may be provided with a packing pad f, for

insuring a water tight joint with the seat a of the fulcrum bearing a; and the sleeve a is formed with a peripheral groove (4, and an outlet port a coincidental therewith, as indicated clearly in Fig. 8, of the drawings.

The bearing 2), for the other end of the fulcrum shaft F, which I designate as the actuating bearing, may also consist of a screw plug, formed with a peripheral screw thread 6, for engagement with a tapped female thread formed for the purpose in the side wall of the casing, as shown in Fig. 3. This bearing 5, is formed with an internal screw thread 5 for engagement with the male-threaded extremity F, of the fulcrum shaft F, the pitch of both engaging threads 7) 7' being steep, so as to insure a relatively quick moven'icnt of the fulcrum shaft F, on its longitudinal axis when the said fulcrum shaft F. is partially rotated by the opening or closing of the valve V.

Considering again the fire alarm connection bearing plug a, the peripheral groove (4, in the bearing sleeve (0, and hence the outlet port (4 coincide with a water passage 0, formed for the purpose in the casing C, and shown more particularly in Figs. 3, 5, and 11, of the drawings. Thus, when the fulcrum shaft F, is retracted by the opening of the valve V, uncovering the port (L in the bearing sleeve a communication is established between the interior of the valve casing C, the exit nort a and the conduit d, leading to the fire alarm device E.

To recapitulate, the operation of my improved automatic sprinkler alarm valve may be stated as follows: Vlhen one or more of the sprinkler heads inclined in the system connected with the 0', end of the valve casing C, is or are opened by the melting of the fusible sealing material, thereby allowing the escape of water and reducing the pres sure on the discharge side of the valve, considered as a unitary device, the preponderating pressure of the head of water on the inlet side of said valve pushes open the valve disc V, to replace the water flowing to and through the sprinkler heads, thereby partly rotating the fulcrum shaft F, on its longitudinal axis. As a result the high pitch threads 7, and 5 cause the said fulcrum shaft F, to movelongitudinally toward the bearing 72, sufficiently to cause the valve errtremity f, of said fulcrum shaft F, to uncover the port a, thereby admitting water under pressure to and through the fire alarm 7 connection bearing plug a, and duct (Z, to the alarm device E. When normal conditions are again established, the weight of the valve disc V, and its suspender 11, turns the fulcrum shaft inversely, so that the screw threads 7, b acting in conjunction, cause the fulcrum shaft F, to again close the discharge ports a", a cutting off communication with the duct 0?, and alarm device E.

Among the advantages attained by my invention are, simplicity of construction and operation, as well as compactness of arrangement of parts, and also quick responsive action to a flow of water through the valve, so that the fire alarm is promptly and practically instantaneously actuated simultaneous with the opening up of the sprinklers involved.

I have herein shown and described the fulcrum shaft F, as male-screw threaded for engagement with a female-screw thread formed for the purpose in the inner portion of the actuating bearing 6, although it is obvious that an alternative and equivalent arrangement. might be'resorted to with like result,-the essential feature in this respect being a copulative screw connection between the parts named that will effect the reciprocatory movements of the fulcrum shaft when partially rotated on its longitudinal axis,

as and for the purpose herein set forth.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In an automatic sprinkler alarm valve of the character designated, the combination of a longitudinally movable fulcrum shaft, a valve member rigidly connected therewith and suspended thereon, a bearing for one extremity of said fulcrum shaft formed with a discharge port normally closed by one end of said fulcrum shaft and adapted for operative connection with a fire alarm device, the other end of said fulcrum shaft being screw threaded, and an actuating bearing screw-threaded for en gagement with said threaded end of the fulcrum shaft, for the purpose and substantially in the manner set forth.-

ill)

2. In'an automatic sprinkler alarm valve of the character designated, the combination of a longitudinally'movable fulcrum shaft, a valve member rigidly connected therewith and suspended thereon, a bearing for one end of said fulcrum shaft formed with a shaft sleeve having an opening communieating with the interior of the valve casing and also with a discharge port, both of said openings being normally closed by one end of said fulcrum shaft, said bearing being also adapted for operative connection with a fire alarm device, the other end of said fulcrum shaft being screw threaded, an actuating bearing internally screw threaded for engagementwith said threaded end of the fulcrum shaft, substantially in the manner and for the purposeset forth, c

3. In an automatic sprinkler alarm valve of the character designated, the combination of a longitudinally movable fulcrum shaft, a valve member rigidly connected therewith, a bearing for one extremity of said fulcrum shaft formed with a discharge port normally closed by said fulcrum shaft and adapted for operative connection with a fire alarm device, and an actuating bearing for the other extremity of said fulcrum shaft, said actuating bearing and said fulcrum shaft being screw connected, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

HARRY G. EASTWOOD. Witnesses:

GEO. WM. MIATT, MARGARET K. HANSTEIN. 

